Discover China's star attractions from the imperial cities of the north to the karst-studded landscapes of the south with pandas, temples and giant buddhas thrown in for good measure.Plan your tailor-made holiday

Plan your Chinese adventure with our handy resources that cover everything from health and money to visas and when best to visit. Discover the top spots worth visiting, make the most of your visit to the Great Wall and see where's best to meet China's black and white emblem - the giant panda.View Our Travel Guide

Chinese Checkers - 11 days

Kick off in Beijing, explore the Forbidden City, ride around the Hutongs and relax over a delicious Peking Duck dinner. Discover the Great Wall at both Badaling and Juyongguan before taking a high speed train to Luoyang - home to the Longman's Caves and the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple. Continue to Xi'an - home to the Terracotta Warriors before ending in futuristic Shanghai.

Today, we embark on a guided tour of the nation’s capital. Tiananmen Square, a patriotic vision of grandeur and the Forbidden city, the walled city of the former Chinese emperors boasting stunning temples, courtyards and reception halls. We take an afternoon rickshaw ride navigating the old back lanes and courtyards of Beijing’s Hutongs. This evening, we enjoy an eye boggling Chinese acrobatic performance. Swinging ropes, juggling hoops, spinning plates and human pyramids are just a few tricks these show stoppers pull out followed by a Welcome Dinner of Peking Duck.Overnight: Beijing | Breakfast, Dinner

After a free morning to further explore the city, we drive beyond Beijing to Badaling, to walk a section of the famous Great Wall. Built in the Ming Dynasty, a 6m wide pathway makes a formidable defence, following the highest contours of a steep range of hills. We also visit a Jade Carving Centre before heading to our quaint hotel near Juyongguan Pass, which offers views of the Great Wall.Overnight: Great Wall | Breakfast, Lunch

Morning at the Great Wall

Beijing - Luoyang. We rise early this morning and head (5 min bus drive) to the Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass when it opens to beat the crowds. Later we return to Beijing to explore the famous Pearl Market - an Aladdin's Cave of clothing, jewellery and electronic gadgets before taking an afternoon bullet train to Luoyang. Reaching speeds of up to 305km per hour the journey is an experience in itself! Check in to hotel in Luoyang, late evening.
Overnight: Luoyang | Breakfast

First thing today we drive to the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple (approx 2 hours), set on the foothills of the Songshan Mountain. Here generation after generation of Shaolin monks have devoted themselves to practising Chan Buddhism and a martial art widely recognised as the origins of kung fu. Over the years hundreds, if not thousands, of people have flocked to this very site to learn this ancient discipline and we'll have the opportunity to watch a performance of kung fu during our visit. Returning to Luoyang you’ll have some free time before we join together in the evening for a visit to Peony Square where ball room dancing, tai chi, aerobics and badminton lessons take place every evening.Overnight: Luoyang | Breakfast, Dinner

Luoyang - Xi’an. Today we explore the UNESCO-listed 6th Century Longman Caves etched into the cliffs ofthe Yi River. The 1300 caves (grottoes) are adorned with 100,000 statues and images of Buddha carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty. This afternoon we board the high speed train to Xi’an (journey time approx 2hrs). After hotel check-in and some time to fresh up we’ll embark on a casual bike ride around the Xi’an City Wall. Looking down as you peddle offers delightful views of the city hubbub and daily life with the Old City in the centre of the walls and the modern city on the outside.Overnight: Xi'an

Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Warriors are reputed to be the greatest discovery of the 20th century - 7,000 life-sized clay soldiers stand ready for battle. We visit the archaeological site and the workshop where the replica warriors are crafted. Tonight, optional Tang Dynasty Bolt-on, with dinner and performance.Overnight: Xi'an | Breakfast, Lunch

Xi’an - Shanghai. First up this morning, we tour the lofty Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The complex of temples, pagodas and expansive gardens, constructed during the 7th century offered refuge and a store house for Chinese Buddhists translating the very important Buddhist sutras from India. After we visit the Muslim Quarter and enjoy some
free time to explore the backstreets of this ever lively area. Later tonight we board our overnight train to Shanghai.Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast, Lunch

Good morning Shanghai! Just the mere mention of ‘Shanghai’ conjures up mystery, romance and general decadence. Pre – 1949, cosmopolitan Shanghai was a magnet for seekers of wealth, idle colonialists, explorers and the dispossessed. Everything went belly up in 1949, when Mao and the communists took to power and swept the good times and rock and roll away. A legacy of these heady times is Shanghai’s Bund where on and around this waterfront promenade are a vast series of grandiose pre-1949 buildings. Just across the Huangpu River is the new Shanghai, a high-tech development of gravity defying skyscrapers.

Today we tour many of the city’s top spots - Yu Gardens and Bazaar- Shanghai’s finest traditional garden, the Bund, Pudong and the Shanghai Plaza Tower and take a cruise along the Huangpu River.Overnight: Shanghai | Breakfast

Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai. Today we travel by road to ancient Suzhou. A sort of oriental Venice, ancient Suzhou is interwoven by a series of canals and pretty waterways which feed a series of classical gardens, laid out here since the Song dynasty a thousand years ago, they are justly famous across China. Suzhou sits very close to the Grand Canal, we enjoy a cruise on the Grand Canal before exploring the Lingering Garden - a beautiful classical Chinese garden dating back from the Ming Dynasty. Today’s final visit is a silk workshop before returning to Shanghai.Overnight: Shanghai | Breakfast, Lunch

Prices & Dates

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.

Yong An Hotel, Beijing

Just a 5 minute walk from the Agricultural Exhibition Centre, the Yong An hotel is a modern hotel with great amenities. Guest rooms are classically decorated with large windows allowing lots of natural light. The hotel has a restaurant that serves up both Chinese and western dishes. Complimentary wi-fi is available and the popular buzzing bar street is just a 15 minute taxi ride away.

Changjuyuan Hotel, Great Wall

Just a 15 minute walk to the Great Wall, Changjuyuan Hotel is a quaint property with some lovely views of the surrounding area. Guest rooms are basic but clean and comfortable with air conditioning and en suite facilities. The hotel has a number of facilities including a karaoke room and picking garden.

New Friendship Hotel, Luoyang

The New Friendship is a modern hotel with a beautiful garden of bridges, brooks and peonies. The practical rooms are cosy and comfortable with modern amenities including internet access. The hotel also boasts a sauna and spa. When hunger strikes, guests can feast on a range of Chinese delicacies from the generous buffet before heading to the night club for some karaoke. The hotel is on Xiyuan Road, a few blocks from Wancheng Park and the museum. It is 15km from the airport and 7km from the railway station.

Wan Nian Grand Hotel, Xi'an

The Wan Nian Grand is a comfortable, friendly hotel with light, good sized rooms. Elegantly decorated, the rooms also boast modern amenities and the hotel has a wealth of facilities including an indoor pool and sauna house, a cafe and bar, and well-equipped business centre.

Ramada Wujiaochang Shanghai , Shanghai

Located within the Wujiaochang business district, this modern high-rise hotel boasts comfortable living. Guests can grab a drink at the lobby bar and dine in the on-site restaurant, or alternatively venture out into the city to find somewhere to local to eat. Guest rooms benefit from high-speed internet access and LCD TVs. There's also a gym, sauna, spa, shop and concierge for additional convenience. The Bund and People's Square, in the heart of Shanghai are less than 10km away as is the shopping haven of Nanjing Road.

Reviews

Scoring an average traveller rating of 4.78
out of 5
based on 18 recent reviews

Tristan was a great guide, very helpful and made sure that we were well looked after - the local guides were also very welcoming and informative

The tour was a good mix of sightseeing and relaxation - much needed after long days and lengthy travel!”

Simon Hill &bullet; Submitted 22 Sep 2017

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This is my fifth OTG tour and one of the best. Feng was absolutely amazing!!! She was informative, professional, and attentive. I really feel like she was our "mom" while in China; even going as far as to show me what street food to try; and which to avoid. There was plenty of guided time and free time; a perfect balance. The local guides in each city were great too! Benny was hilarious, telling us to stay together "like sticky rice"...

I'm already looking for my next tour because OTG has not disappointed me yet. Amazing how much you get for the price. I love how much you see in a limited time! Five star trip for a three star price. Can't go wrong with OTG!!!!!”

William Morris &bullet; Submitted 14 Jul 2017

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The tour far exceeded my expectations. Everything was very well organised such as timings and train tickets etc. The hotels were very good quality and room facilities were excellent. Meals that were included in the tour were delicious and far better than the meals in tours I have done with other companies. Lily was friendly and approachable and kept everyone on the tour happy. She organised the group very well and made sure that we were never late which allowed us to see some of the sites before other tour groups arrived. All in all, I had a fabulous time and would recommend the tour to anyone. My least favourite part of the tour was the overnight sleeper train to shanghai, although it was an authentic experience, the toilets were very dirty. ”

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. This trip was perfect from the minute we landed to the minute we left and some! The tour was absolutely perfectly organised and all the tiny details were sorted out for us prior to our visit. So the trip was as wonderful as a trip like this should be. The tour guide met us immediately we landed and then accommodation throughout was really good, guides were really knowledgeable, places we went to were amazing. We had hoped this would be the trip of a life time and it really was. We are already trying to decide on another tour, the choice is so vast, and we will absolutely be using On The Go again! Thank you so much!”

Marie Wears &bullet; Submitted 02 May 2017

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Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. This trip was perfect from the minute we landed to the minute we left and some! The tour was absolutely perfectly organised and all the tiny details were sorted out for us prior to our visit. So the trip was as wonderful as a trip like this should be. The tour guide met us immediately when we landed and then accommodation throughout was really good, guides were really knowledgeable, places we went to were amazing. We had hoped this would be the trip of a life time and it really was. We are already trying to decide on another tour, the choice is so vast, and we will absolutely be using On The Go again! Thank you so much! ”

Marie Wears &bullet; Submitted 30 Apr 2017

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The tour was as I expected, full on, with loads of activities and varied experiences.

Our guide Sabrena, couldn't have been more helpful. She went out of her way to make sure we had all the information we needed before the start of the tour and was very attentive throughout. ”

Susan Stevenson &bullet; Submitted 06 Apr 2017

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The guide Sabrena was very knowledgable, thoughtful and caring for the whole trip.

A very genuine person, could not have had a better guide! And the Drivers and van excellent. I was surprised to have such good accommodation no complaints there.

Too many gardens to visit, although beautiful but instead would have preferred to have visited the best historical museum in Beijing to help understand the depth & richness of Chinese culture. I'm sure our friendly savvy group who were all well over 30yrs (we all gelled as a group and eight perfect number sure they would have appreciated it too! And a modern art Gallery say in Shanghai. These two things would give more depth to the tour. (Not the traditional art which everyone knows in west so well). Acrobatic performance was brilliant.

Benny the guide in Xian was good and fun too. He obviously loves his city. I loved the bike ride around the city wall best way to view the it. Ramps and all. Amazing markets there.

The whole tour for me was so enjoyable, China"s exciting, vibrant and spectacular sites The Great Wall (so good to have two days walking it.) Terracotta (Bike ride, the cruises, towers...all good) So glad to have travelled by trains than go through domestic airports!

Longman Caves( here would have been good to have connected us with the little ferries that plied the river we tried but language a barrier would have been a highlight of our stay there viewing the caves sailing along instead we walked.

Shanghai"s Cruise was stunning, loved it the best and great way to finish our tour, especially and special thanks to Megan our FlightCentre agent in Adelaide for working so hard to arrange the best, for our trip, very thorough and helpful a job well done.”

Lynne Seppelt-Deakin &bullet; Submitted 07 Dec 2016

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Lisa was excellent, she spoke with enthusiasm and captured the interest from the youngest (21 years) to the oldest (60+) people of our Chinese Checkers tour. She went out of her way to make sure we all enjoyed the experience and we would highly recommend her to receive recognition of all of her hard work!”

Stuart Bottomley &bullet; Submitted 25 Oct 2016

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Excellent trip from start to finish, well organised with the needs of the travellers given high priority. Stefanie our guide, is a credit to your company, she is professional at all times, well informed and knowledgeable about her country but also cares about the well being of her "charges".

Special thanks to "Jay" whose job was to just see us to the airport - but due to all Beijing flights being delayed/cancelled his task became considerably harder!!!! Would be nice to get a message to him that we made our connection in Beijing, by minutes only!”

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change or delay your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time.

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.

If you are happy to be paired up with another single traveller of the same sex on your tour, this can be arranged, thus avoiding the single person supplement.

This tour is also available on a private basis - for details please see the Supplementary Prices above.

Signature

Exciting Days, Comfortable Nights

On The Go's Signature group tours place local interaction and authenticity at the heart of your cultural travel experience. Upping the comfort stakes, this range is a clear cut above our Adventure range.

Appealing to a wide age demographic from the 20s to 60+, we maximize your days with excitement and awe and then bring you home to a comfortable 4* hotel with western amenities, air-conditioning, WiFi and, where appropriate, a swimming pool. Hotels can sometimes be of 3 or 5 star standard too, ensuring you get the best value for your holiday.

Visiting all the main attractions you’ll be accompanied throughout by our highly qualified English-speaking local guides too. Group size is typically 18 with a maximum for 28, apart from festival tours, where group sizes can be larger due to the one-off nature of these events.

Guaranteed Departures

This tour is 100% guaranteed to depart with travellers.

Compare Tours

Select up to 3 tours to compare prices, itineraries and complete tour options:

For all our tours and tailor-made holidays we provide you with a clear categorisation of all hotels we use. The REGIONAL CATEGORY indicates the local rating of each hotel in each respective country. We have also rated each hotel using OUR CATEGORY, which will be in line with generally accepted western hotel grading standards.

SimpleBasic hotels and simple accommodation is a no frills option with an adventurous authentic feel.

StandardStandard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant.

SuperiorSuperior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre.

DeluxeDeluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care.

LavishLavish accommodation equates to a Western 5-star plus standard - the creme de la creme. Featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, this accommodation is a cut above the rest. Sheer opulence!

Tipping Kitty

Tipping is not a natural part of many Western cultures and many of us feel uncomfortable, or unsure, about when, or how much, to tip. However, in China, tipping makes up a significant part of many people's wages so it's important that we get it right. For this reason we've developed a very simple system to take all the hassle out of tipping. With our 'tipping made easy' policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour. Our 'tipping made easy' doesn't include a tip to your group tour leader. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you as tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

China Group Tours

Our fun and informative group tours are perfect for first-time visitors with the services of qualified English-speaking local guides, plenty of sightseeing covering China's main highlights and enough free time for you to explore too. With the Great Wall topping most travellers' wish lists in China, closely followed by the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, we've ensured that all our China group tours include these two incredible sites.

Our trips typically have between 15 and 20 travellers and are escorted by a local Chinese guide who will organise day-to-day activities, ensure smooth hotel check-ins and with their expert local knowledge, provide tips on where to shop or eat. We also use specialist local guides at key sights of interest to maximise your experience.

Accommodation is in comfortable 3-4 star well-managed, centrally located hotels and we include arrival and departure transfers, all transportation, guided sightseeing and a number of your meals. When kicking off our travels in Beijing or Shanghai we start with a group meal, affording you the chance to meet your travelling companions over a Peking Duck dinner or traditional Chinese feast before the adventure really begins!